Bonk Breaker Energy Bar, Caramel Macchiato, 1.76 Oz (12 Count), Gluten Free & Dairy Free

These Caramel Macchiato Bonk Breaker bars make a tasty and filling snack. The texture is a lot like a traditional Clif bar with its dense, chewy texture. But these are smaller, and the taste is unique. These bars are sweet but I only get a hint of a caramel taste, and I think the coffee taste is dominant and gives the bars a slight bitterness. I like that slightly bitter coffee taste as these don’t taste as sweet as many bars and I love the taste of coffee. These bars have real coffee and 30 grams of caffeine, and eating a bar in the afternoon recharges me a bit but doesn’t give me enough caffeine to affect my sleep.The bars are about the same calories as a candy bar with 200 calories and about 1 tablespoon of sugar, though they do have 5 grams of protein. The ingredients look good for the most part, though the nutritional value isn’t exceptional. But my only real criticism is that I wish the oats were organic as a recent study found levels that I personally find unacceptable of the weed killer glyphosate in a variety of oat products. I enjoy these bars and will eat them occasionally, but I’d eat them more regularly if made with organic oats. For those with allergies, these are certified GF. The label says these are nonGMO and have cashews, milk (butter) and soy. 4 stars. Made in the USA.3/7/2019 Update: I’m so crazy busy at work that I had to stay late, and my head started pounding like a full on migraine was coming on. I had one of these bars in my bag, and it knocked my headache right out. I guess I was hungry, plus the caffeine really helped. I do really hope they switch to organic oats, but I really like these bars a lot. So I’m upgrading my rating from 4 to 5 stars.

I am...not a breakfast person. I know that's not great, so I do attempt to work on it. These are something I wanted to try for that purpose. They're...ok? The flavor seems to be pretty good, but it's *super* inconsistent. I'll get a bit that seems super sweet (almost like biting into a dried fig), but then another bite will taste like straight coffee...and then another bite will have crunch that feels/tastes like I'm chewing on pieces of coffee bean.They're not terrible - they will get eaten. But I'm not sure that I would get them again, because with so much inconsistency, there isn't really a *flavor* that goes along with any of it.

These tasted nothing like I thought or hoped. If I didn't know the flavor (caramel macchiato) I would have had no idea what the flavor was. They are chunks of gooey granola like stuff. They are quite sticky and not at all eye appealing. At a mere 5g of protein to a whopping 30g of carbs (12g sugar) these are not for me. 30mg of caffeine is about a third a cup or less than 3oz of coffee worth. Not worth the carb/sugar in take to me.

Enjoyed one of these as a mid workout snack today, after cardio and before weights. I did feel that this helped with my energy level - possibly the (relatively small amount of) caffeine, more likely the carbs.Taste and texture wise, these caramel macchiato bars are fabulous. I could TOTALLY taste both flavors and I loved the oatty chewy texture. I don’t avoid gluten but I don’t seek it out either.Size - they feel small. I guess that’s partly how they keep the calories to 200. I usually eat bars as meal replacement and look for more protein and less carbs, so I definitely see these as mid-exercise fuel, not meal-replacement. These bars are denser than they look and they are pretty satisfying.Shipping - the box arrived torn open and crushed. The bars themselves were in fine condition.UPDATE I also received a box of "banana cream" flavor and the amazon vine software will not allow me to do a separate review for this flavor, so I am adding that review here.I already reviewed the "caramel macchiato" bonk breaker bars, now I am reviewing "banana cream." Banana cream is quite different in flavor but it is just as delicious in it's own way. It has a nice, strong banana taste, and the texture is terrific - nice and oaty. My husband commented that he thought it was too sweet but I disagree. In fact, I compared the sugar content to a Cliff Bar and the Bonk Breakers have LESS sugar. The bars look deceptively small but they are packed tight and quite satisfying. I don't know if I would use these as a meal replacement (maybe for a light breakfast?) but they are ideal for a mid-workout snack - gym, hiking, biking, etc.Also - the box arrived in good condition, NOT crushed as the first box (caramel macchiato) was.

WHAT I LIKED: I liked pretty much everything about these "energy" bars. They taste good, they are filling, and they have caffeine. That should be their logo right there.I used to love Cliff Bars. Then I got a job where I just write all day, and suddenly I didn't have to worry about carrying around portable food bars. But here's the thing. When you need a quick bite on the go, and you haven't hit peak caffeine yet, it's okay to have something like a Bonk Breaker Energy Bar in your totally cool with your lady "man-bag."WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: You can eat them in 4 bites. I like my bars to last at least 6 bitesCONCLUSION: Awesome food bars. Don't worry about the caffeine because one of these bars is only about half of what a cup of coffee provides. They taste great, and they are the perfect size to pack with you.

These taste ok. They have a hint of the flavor at first but it seems to fade away while eating it. The texture turns into a typical energy bar mouth feel, but without the typical energy bar taste. At 30mg caffeine, I’m not sure I feel the caffeine, but I’m usually 4 cups deep into coffee by the time I eat one anyway.Overall, these do make a great snack for coffee lovers or for people who need a quick caffeine boost.